Image

Wednesday, 30 April 2014

You can't follow this blog and not pick up on the fact that I love Herps. In Arizona there is a 'Holy Grail' that everyone looks out for, the mysterious Gila Monster. How can you not want to see an animal that is legitimately called a monster? They are highly secretive and oh did I mention, they are the only venomous lizard in North America? Needless to say, I have wanted to see one ever since we bought our house. About a year after we bought it my husband was sitting out in the backyard, chatting to me on the phone when one casually trundled onto the patio, needless to say, I was not amused. And so I waited, and waited and the years clicked by. On Friday I was sitting by the pool when what should come strolling towards me but this beautiful character.

Well my year was made, my very own Gila sighting, I was completely delighted. So imagine my incredulity when the next morning I found this outside my front door!

Two different Gila Monsters in two days, it doesn't get any better than this.

Wednesday, 23 April 2014

The Ladder-backed Woodpeckers on our land are notoriously shy and I can never capture a good shot of them. It seems a little bribery works wonders as this beautiful little female just couldn't resist the lure of the suet feeder. Photographed at last!

We have a small piece of land nestled up against the mountains and this blog is a pictorial record of what occurs there. My only rule, if it doesn't take place on our land - it doesn't get on the blog.